Eoin Morgan ‘a big loss’ for World Cup with broken finger

England’s World Cup plans have suffered a major setback after
Eoin Morgan was ruled out of the tournament with a fractured finger.

Key England batsman Eoin Morgan will miss the World Cup (PA)

The Irish-born batsman had been his country’s leading performer in one-day cricket over the past 18 months and his role as England’s ‘finisher’ was crucial to their plans on the slow, low pitches of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

However, X-rays have revealed the fractured finger he sustained during the fourth one-dayer against Australia in Adelaide has proved terminal to his World Cup hopes.

Ravi Bopara has been summoned from England Lions’ tour of the Caribbean to take his place in the 15-man squad which departs for the sub-continent on Saturday.

Such is Morgan’s importance – he is the one player who can consistently clear the boundary – England considered taking him to the World Cup carrying the injury in the hope of using him in the knockout stages.

But the break on the middle finger of his left hand is worse than first feared.

Coach Andy Flower , speaking on the team’s arrival at Heathrow following an Australian tour that saw them retain the Ashes but surrender the one-day series 6-1, said: ‘Eoin won’t be going to the World Cup. His finger needs to be operated on.

‘He’ll be a huge loss to us. He’s been a very influential limited-overs performer for us since he joined the England team.’

Captain Andrew Strauss added: ‘Over the last 12 to 18 months he has been the stand-out performer for us in one-day cricket.’

There is, at least, better news on England’s other injury concerns.

Tim Bresnan (calf), Graeme Swann (back), Paul Collingwood (back) and Ajmal Shahzad (hamstring) all left Australia early, while Stuart Broad (stomach) has not played since the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.

But Flower said: ‘The guys that came back early are progressing well.’

Indeed, on Tuesday, spinner Swann came through a net session without any problems.